Teenagers and young adults have been warned of the dangers of messing about on railway lines - including electrocution.

New figures released by British Transport Police show there has been a seven per cent rise in reports of trespass over the summer, and now officers are warning young people not to risk their lives by going onto the tracks.

The stats show people are twice as likely to go on top of train tracks during the summer and the warning coincides with the start of the summer holidays.

Almost 170 people have lost their lives trespassing on the railway in the last 10 years, and the statistic show nearly 50 per cent of those people are under the age of 25.

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Alice Morton from Network Rail said: “We are reminding young people that if they are on the railway, they are on dangerous ground. It may seem like a good idea to take a shortcut, or like fun to play on the tracks, but this is not only illegal, it is also dangerous.

“Britain has the safest railway in Europe but still too many people lose their lives on the tracks. As the railway gets busier and we electrify more lines to improve services, we must work harder to keep young people safe by making them aware of the dangers that exist. Taking a short cut or messing around on the tracks can result in serious life-changing injuries or death.”

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The statistics show:

72 per cent of all trespassers who died over the last 10 years were struck by a train

Another 17 per cent were electrocuted

The remaining 11 per cent fell from structures or trains

Most trespassers said taking a shortcut was their main motivation for trespassing, which is a crime, punishable by a fine of up to £1,000.

Worryingly, 19 per cent said they went on to the tracks for “thrill-seeking”.

As a response, BTP is increasing patrols around the train-lines around Reading, Wokingham and Bracknell.

Chief inspector Tom Naughton, who is responsible for BTP’s response to trespass, said: “The last thing our officers want to do is knock on someone’s door to tell a parent their loved one has been killed or seriously injured as a result of trespassing.

“We’re doing all we can to keep young people safe by patrolling areas where we know they’re likely to trespass and prevent them from doing so. However, we cover thousands of miles of track and we cannot tackle this issue alone.

“That is why we are urging young people to heed this warning and take a reality check when it comes to trespass. It’s not a game: they are real tracks, with real trains and real life consequences.”